Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Final results for the 2015 Upper Wind Festival have been compiled, and here they are:

Attendance was a little lighter than previous years due to mandatory scheduling changes due because of unseasonably low river flows, but the racing was intense. Expect media to be posted over the next couple of weeks as it comes in. Thanks to all the participants, sponsors, and volunteers that helped make the 2015 Upper Wind Festival a success!

The 2015 Western Whitewater Championship Series is here and starting with the Upper Wind Festival VIII! Here are all the details for folks wanting to race, volunteer, or watch this now classic class V whitewater grudge match!EVENT DATE:March 15th, 2015 SUNDAYWestern Whitewater Championship Series Event #2http://www.wwchampionship.org/CURRENT FLOW LEVELS : Wind River at Stablerhttps://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/wrx/wrx/flows/station.asp?wria=29#block3TAKE-OUT / AWARDS CEREMONY DIRECTIONS:From Carson, WA, head north on Wind River Road. A few minutes north of town, take a left on High Bridge Road (If you have crossed the actual High Bridge, you have gone to far). Take an immediate right on Old Detour Road. Continue down this road a short distance slowly through a residential neighborhood until it turns to dirt. Keep going until you get to the Wind River.

STABLE BRIDGE PUT-IN / STAGING AREA DIRECTIONS:From Carson, WA, head north on Wind River Road. Continue for approximately 7.5 miles. Take a left turn on Hemlock Road. You will immediately cross Stabler Bridge and most likely see a bunch of boaters. Take your first right onto Edgewater Drive, and park where ever you can find space that does not block traffic!

REGISTRATION:Start and registration at Stabler Bridge put in. There will be a KEEN pop-up tent with tables.

Registration begins at 10:00am on the day of the event!

$25 per paddler includes insurance, food, t-shirt, photo/videos, and beverages.

When racers sign up:•Fill Out Registration Form•Fill Out ACA Form

BIBS:Make sure they are secure and on the front of your pfd.A lost or unreadable bib number may mean that you do not get recorded at the finish line!

The front left paddler in the rafts wears that team's bib.

STARTING POSITIONS:Competitors draw a card from a deck and bring the card to the racer/safety meeting. Keep the card in your pfd if questions later arise in regard to your starting position. This is also the ticket for food and drink later at the awards ceremony.

Rafts over 13 feet get only one draw for starting position.Rafts at or under 13 feet get two draws for starting position.Do your best to bring a small boat it's low!

HIGH NOON start time: 12 sharp.

Safety boaters depart at 11:30am.

Registration ends at 11:30am.

-Mass start kayak at HIGH NOON.Boat length restriction is 9'1".This length restriction allows all current creek boat designs.No long boat class this year.

-Mass start R2 raft 12:10pm.Any length.However, boats over 13' will only get one starting position draw. Do your best to bring a small boat!

IMPORTANT: DO NOT BE LATE TO YOUR DESIGNATED STARTING TIME. Race timing is based off of these times, so they will not be delayed unless absolutely mandatory. If someone tries to register within 30 minutes before the start of either race, the race will still start on time with or without them!, and the fee is non-refundable. Late registration also requires the competitor to start at the back of the pack, with no drawing for starting position.

The long and the short of it: DON"T BE LATE!

RACE SWEEP:2 or more boats will be designated as sweep boats.

All safety boaters will sweep the course with this final group.

Same finish line as in years past, about 3 miles downstream from the start. Annotated on the event map, and demarced by sponsor banners.

RESULTS / AWARDS CEREMONY / CELEBRATION:

The awards ceremony this year will be at the bottom of the take out road and in a nice little area out of the mud. Please keep the road clear at all times. Prizes are only guaranteed for classes with 5 or more registered competitors, and only for the top 25% or less. (ex: 10 racers = 1st/2nd/3rd, 5 racers = 1st/2nd)

Park at the top if possible and along wide sections of the road. Food and Ninkasi beer will be free to all participants (bring your starting card from earlier), and available for a minimum $5 donation for spectators.

March14th, Saturday.

Morning Registration is from 7:30 -
8:30am.

3miles; mass start by class at
Stabler Bridge to approximately 1 mile below Climax. Take out will be river
right above High Bridge.

Classes
include;kayak (all lengths), and R4 and R2 paddle rafts.

To
reach the put in, drive north past Carson about 8 miles. There will be a
store and a road on your left (This is Stabler). Take a left, cross over
the bridge, after about 100 meters take a right, stay right, and follow
that road down until it dead ends at the river. Unload quickly, park your
vehicle off to the side of this short access road or park back up on the
main road. This is a residential area, please be courteous and minimize
traffic.

To
reach the take-out, drive north past Carson, take last left onto High
Bridge Rd, take first right, next right, follow all the way to river
(turns into dirt road).

Carson
has gas, a small store, café, camping in the area, and cabins.
Stevenson,Washington is about 6
miles away and has hotels, a supermarket, and many restaurants.

High
water cutoff is 7.5 feet, low water cutoff is 4 feet. Gauge of reference is Wind River at Stabler.

BeachspectatorswillonlybeabletoviewtheeventfromtheRam’s Hornorfinishlineareas.Privateboatersmayviewtheracefromasafedistanceoutsideofthemainnavigablechannel and are encouraged to stand by with
throw bags.